Water control system for automatic washers and the like



J. H. PALMER Dec. 2, 1952 WATER CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC WASHERS AND THE LIKE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Nov. 24, 1950 Inventor- Joh'r H. Palmer',

HisAttor-nedg.

Dec. 2, 1952 J, H, PALMER 2,619,823

WATER CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC WASHERS AND THE LIKE Inventor: John H. Palmer,

His AUoOT-Teg.

Patented Dec. 2, -1952 WATERUONTROLfSYSTEMFGRAUTOMATIC `WASHERS AND THE LIKE 'John H. Palmer, Milford, Conn.,;assignor to v(ieneral A'Electric Company, a corporation of New .York

Application November 24, 19.50, Serial No. 19.7,'385

(Cl. 16S-i12) 2 Claims. 1

My .invention relates to control systems "and, more particularly, to water control 'systems 'for automatic clothes `Washing 4machines `and the like.

In automatic clothes washing machines, it is not 'only necessary to open and close the Water valves at the proper time lin accordance with a predetermined 'time cycle, but it is `also lnecessary 'that the .water .valves be 'operated Vat the proper time with respect to Athe desired condition of the clothes being Washed. That is, 4agitation of the 'clothes should not 'beginuntil the basket `has "been iilled with water. After the basket has been lled, `it is desired that agitation lproceed uninterrupted for the predetermined length of time. Next, 'the Water should `be `einptiedfrom the Lbasketrand the clothespartially dried 'by centrifugal .extraction AWhile 'the Waterjis pumped out of the ywashing machine and the .control system `reset 'for the next operation 'in .the time cycle. Mechanisms 'to .perform the above operations are already in existence. However, they ,generally .employ separate .motors or drive vand 'for pumping.

lhereore, .an important .object of my Yinvention .to provide an .improved water control system .or vautomatic clothes washing .machines and .the lke having :the zpump coupled to the .drive motpr. .Another obiect .of my inventionlis to provide an improved water `.control 'systemffor automatic clothes Washingmacliinesand .thelike in which .the water pump operates .continuously -.vs/mile the washing machine .is fin operation.

1n carrying out any .invention 'in they preferred 'iorm thereof, l'the .Water pump, provided or For -`additional `objects and -advantages .and

for 'a .better .understanding of .my invention, attention `is .now `directed v.to .the .following descrip- .tion :and the .accompanying `drawing and also to -the appended `.claims vin which .the 'features of vmyinvention .believed .to .be novel-are particularly pointed out. Fig. 1 is asectional .view in elevation of anautornatic washing machine Aembodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram vof the 'control circuit Tor `an, automatic Washing machine embodying myinvention; and

Fig. 3 is a 'sectional fview in elevation of `a lportion of 'an lautomatic clothes washing machine embodying a `modificationofmy invention.

Referring to 'the drawings, the t*basket I .is mounted for rotation Within .the .automatic 'washing machine 2. v"The :agitator 3 iis .rotatably mounted in basket JI'. The shaft SII iis Asecured to agitator 3 land is driven in continuous rotation or in oscillatory rotation 'by fthe `electric motor 5. Motor 5 drives agitator 3 through a drilve mechanism 56, such fas :the fluid operated clutch and 'brake mechanism disclosed 'by 'Thomas T. Woodson "in his application, PSerial No.' '639,811'7, filed January '8, 1:94'6, issued vOctober 117, '1950 as 'Patent No. 2,526,444, -and assigned -to 'the same 'assignee vas lmy presentl invention. The pump 1 4is also driven by motor`5.

Ag'itator '3 :is 'provided-With `a"longitudinal laper- 4ture 8 through-'the length thereof lwhich is iconnected to the outside of agitator '3 by vthe ports '9 'in 'the Aupper portion of agitator 3. 'Basket ".I `is provided with the ports- `I0 in the upper por- 'tion thereof, fand with the ports II in 'the bo'ttom thereof. Water is supplied 1to `the washing machine vthrough -a solenoid operated valve FIB. 'The lower, or"tub,portion 'I2 of washing :machine 2 is providedwith an aperture I3 which is --connected to the'intake side of vpump 'I Yby the tube I4. The 'catch "basin "I5 is 'annular in shape and is conveniently mounted on drive unit -'6. The `float I6, `disposed "in basin I5, operates the switch ITI 'which 'controls 'the solenoid -valve I8. The jsiphon I9, secured 'to basin "|15, `l'is provided to :draw-waterput of basin I5.

'Before the'washing machine begins to operate, there -lis no water in 'basket I, ybasin IE5, or in .tub portion I2. Float I6 rests on the bottom of basin I5. As soon pas :the washing machine `lis energized, solenoid valve I8 is energized and water enters basket I. Assoon as basket 'I iis nearly full, water overflows 'through ports 9 .into aperture '8 `and passes through .ports II 'into catch basin I5. As .basin I5 .is filled, iio'at I6 is raised, and switch II is operated. "Solenoid valve I8 is de-,energized by 'the operation of switch I1, .and the flow of Water is cut off.

Switch I"I also has .contacts which energize motor 5 as soonas solenoid .valve i8 ,is de-.ener- .gized `When motor 5 is energized, 'the ag'tate cycle begins. v.As long as .motor .5 .is operating, pump I is also operating and any water vslapping out .of .basket I a'lls into tub portion 'I2 and is drawn off by pumpl.

vWhen the spincycle begins, water is thrown vout of basket Ithrough ports I'll Vand falls-into di tub portion I2. However, aperture I3 is of such magnitude and the capacity of pump 1 is such that pump 'I cannot draw water out of tub portion I2 as fast as it overflows from basket I. The overflow accumulates in tub portion I2 and remains there until pump 'I can draw it all away.

During the agitato cycle, the short leg 2Q of siphon I9 `is filled to the level of the water in basin I5. As tub portion I2 begins to fill up with water, the long leg 2| of siphon IS also begins to fill up with water, thereby compressing the air trapped in siphon I9 and forcing some of the water out of short leg 20. By the time all of the water has been thrown out of basket I, the level of the Water in tub portion I2 is such that all of the water and some of the air has been forced out of leg 2i). As pump 'I begins to catch up and the water level in tub portion I2 drops, water is drawn back into short leg 20 from basin I5. As soon as enough water passes from leg 23 to leg 2| so that the column of water in leg 2| is greater than the column of water in leg 23, siphon I9 begins to run freely, and all the water is drawn out of basin E5. It has been found that the long leg 2| should be at least twice as long as short leg 20 in order that enough air may -be expelled from short leg 28 to enable the siphon to run freely after the level of the water in tub portion I2 has dropped below basin I5.

Considering now the electric circuit required to supplement the mechanical portion of the water control system hereinbefore described, l refer to Fig. 2. The alternating supply conduc-l tors 22 and 23 supply electrical energy to the control circuit for washer 2. A conventional program switching arrangement controls the washing machine operation. The program switch comprises the control motor 24 driving the cams 25, 25, 21, and 28. Each of the cams operates a correspondingly designated switch in the control circuit. The knob 29 is secured to shaft 24a for initiating operation of the washing machine.

Motor is provided with a starting contacter, such as the relay 30, having normally open contacts and responsive to currents above a predetermined level. When motor 5 is energized, relay 30 is picked up by the high starting current and closes the normally open contacts 30a. to connect the starting windings of motor 5. As motor 5 comes up to speed the counter E. M. F. produced by the armature of motor 5 reduces the current through the operating coil of relay 30, causing relay 33 to drop out, thereby de-energizing the starting windings of motor 5. The fluid operated clutch and brake mechanism of Fig. l is controlled by a solenoid valve having its operating coil 3| connected across supply conductors 22 and 23 through contacts 23h. When solenoid operating coil 3| is energized, the washing machine is shifted to the spin mode of operation.

To energize the washing machine, knob 23 is turned to the start position. This operation opens contacts 27a. and 25h and closes contacts 26a and 25a. The solenoid water valve operating coil I3@ is energized through the contacts I'Ia and 26a. Solenoid water valve I3 opens the path for water to flow into the washing machine. When basket I is full, water overflows through agitator ports 9 and nlls catch basin l5, raising float IS to close contacts IIb. Switch II is provided with snap-action so that contacts Ill: are closed as soon as contacts Ila are opened. Closing contacts IIb de-energizes coil Ii'ial and closes valve I3.v Drive motor 5 and program. control motor 24 are energized. Relay 30 picks up and motor 5 comes up to operating speed, as hereinbefore described. Control motor 2d is energized through contacts I'Ib and contacts 28a.

' The washing machine is now in the washing, or agitata, cycle. Just before the end of the wash cycle, contacts 21a and 28h are closed, thereby connecting the control motor 24 and -drive motor 5 across supply conductors 22 and 23 independently of float switch I'I. This insures continuous operation of drive motor 5 and control motor 24 during the switch from agitate to spin.

After the prescribed period of agitation, cam 26 opens contacts 25a and closes contacts 2Gb, thereby energizing the solenoid spin valve operating coil 3 I. When all the water is removed from the washing machine during the spin cycle, as hereinbefore described, float I6 is returned to the bottom of catch basin I5, thereby closing contacts Ila and preparing the washing machine for the next cycle of operation.

At the end of the spin cycle, contacts 26h, 21a, and 23h are opened. Contacts 2501l and 28a are closed. The washer is filled with water again and an agitate cycle follows for rinsing the clothes, as hereinbefore described for the washing operation. Just before the end of the rinse cycle, contacts 22a are closed. At the end of the rinse cycle, contacts 25o are closed, thereby initiating a second spin cycle. At the end of the second spin cycle, cam 25 opens contacts 25a, thereby `cle-energizing drive motor 5, control motor 24, and the remainder of the control circuit.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 3, catch basin I5 is replaced by a well 32 in the bottom of tub portion I2. A standpipe 33 connects tub portion I2 with the intake side of pump l. Siphon |53 extends into standpipe 33 through an aperture in the side thereof so that leg 2| extends down through standpipe 33 and leg 23 extends outside standpipe 33 almost to the bottom of well 32. Float it is here mounted in the -bottom of tub portion I2.

After basket I has been filled, water overows through ports Il) in tub portion I2. The overflow fills well 32 and a portion of tub I2, thereby raising float I6 to operate switch I'I. Operation of the washing machine continues as hereinbefore described until the spin cycle starts and basket I is emptied. At that time, the water is thrown out of basket I through the ports I0, thereby filling tubl portion I2. v n

At the beginning of the washing machine cycle, the overflow from basket I which operates switch I'! does not fill tub portion I2 to the level BB so that siphon I9 is not effectuated. Thus, float I6 remains in the raised position and the agitate cycle continues uninterrupted until the program mechanism starts the spin cycle, as hereinbefore described. When the water rises above the level BB, siphon I9 begins to run freely but cannot draw enough water to stop the filling of tub portion I2. The water level in tub p0rtion I2 continues to rise and ultimately rises above the level CC. Water now ows through standpipe 33 and is drawn away by pump 1. After basket I is emptied and the water level drops below CC, no more water can enter pump I through standpipe 33 and Siphon I9 completes the task of emptying the tub portion I2. Siphon I9 empties all of tub portion I2 except the residue water below the level AA.

Pump l operates throughout the entire washing machine cycle. However, since standpipe 33 extends above the water level in tub por,-

tion I2 during the entire agitate cycle, pump 'l chooses the lighter work of drawing air through standpipe 33, rather than drawing Water from Well 32 through siphon I9. Therefore, iloat I6 is heldin the raised position until after the spin cycle has started and tub portion l2 has been drained.

While the present invention has been described by reference to particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood that this is by way of illustration of the principles involved and that those skilled in the art may make many modifications in the arrangement and mode of operation. Therefore, I contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a washing machine having a watercollecting tub and a rotatable clothes basket supported therein, a water control system comprising electro-responsive Nalve means controlling the supply of Water to said basket, an energizing electric circuit for said valve means, switch means controlling said circuit, a water overflow passageway in said basket, means for draining said tub, a catch basin spaced above said tub and supported under said basket overflow passageway to collect water therefrom, float means in said basin adapted to operate said switch means in response to a predetermined water accumulation in said basin, a Siphon having a relatively short leg extending into said basin and a relatively long leg at least twice the length of said short leg depending from said basin, and means supplying said tub with water to a level above the lower end of said short leg to condition said siphon for operation whereby said siphon drains said basin upon removal of the water in said tub.

2. In an automatic clothes washing machine having an aperture in the bottom thereof and having an electric drive motor, a water control system comprising a clothes-receiving basket mounted for rotation in said washing machine, an agitator mounted in said basket for rotation about the axis of rotation of said basket,

6 solenoid-operated valve means for controlling the iiow of water into said basket, said agitator having a longitudinal aperture through the center thereof and having ports in the upper portion thereof for admitting Water from said basket to said longitudinal aperture, said basket having ports in the central portion of the bottom thereof and having a hub portion connecting said basket ports with the lower end of said longitudinal aperture and sealing both from the remainder of said basket, said basket having overflowports in the upper portion of the circumference thereof for discharging water contained in said basket in response to the spinning of said basket, a pump mounted to be driven by said motor for removing water accumulated in the bottom of said Washing machine, a tube connecting said aperture to said pump, a basin mounted in said washing machine below said basket ports for catching and retaining water spilled from said basket through said agitator ports in response to the filling of said basket, a oat disposed in said basin, a switch connected to said oat and operated thereby in response to the changing water level in said basin, a siphon having a short leg and a long leg at least twice as long as said short leg for withdrawing water accumulated in said basin, said siphon effectuated in response to the accumulation of Water in the bottom of said washing machine forcing air from said short siphon leg thereby enabling said siphon to run freely when said accumulated water is removed, and a circuit for energizing said solenoid-operated valve means, said oat switch having contacts in series in said solenoid-operated valve means energizing circuit for de-energizing said solenoid in response to a rising water level in said basin.

JOHN H. PALMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

, UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

